Slide fastener



Feb. 14, 1950 J. H. KHLER sums: msmmn Filed Feb. 1e, 1945 Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-'FicE amsn suns rss'rENna John H. Kohler, Cambridge. Mass., assigner to United-Carr Fastener- Mass., a corporation o Corporation, Cambridge, i Massachusetts Application February 16.1945, Serial No. 578,2

8 Claims. (Cl. 24e-205.16)

able to an edge of each Stringer. The coils are embraced by a slider which moves them into and out of interlocking meshed relationship. The stringers of such slide fasteners frequently are flexible members, for example strips of woven material, and are frequently attached to flexible members, for example parts of clothing and the like. If the part of the garment or Stringer above the slide is bent outwardly, the spacings between the convolutions of the coils are apt to be disposed parallel to and in alignment with the side anges of the slider. In such condition, movement of the slider in a direction to close the coils, often 2` slide fastener installation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of a slide fastener according to the invention,- the Stringer tapes and attached co being shown in elevation;

- Fig. 3 is an enlargedadeta'ii horizontal sectional results in the retaining or side flanges of the slider being pulled through the aligned space between adjacent convolutions of one coil resulting in disengagement of the slider from that particular coil. The fastener is thus rendered inoperative and useless.

The present invention has for its object generally to improve the construction of slide fasteners and more particularly to provide an im proved construction in which the slider is prevented from being pulled through the spaces hetween the coils.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved coil type slide fastener in which each coil is securely attached to its carrying Stringer so as to maintain the'coil in position with its axis disposed in the plane of the web of the stringer tape.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of `an improved coil type Slide fastener in which each coil is attached to its carrying Stringer by means embracing each convolution of the coil at a plurality of circumferentially spaced places. Y

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of coil-attached Stringer tapes for use in slide fastener installations of the interlocking coil type.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is-a front elevation-of a portion of a view of the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 as taken 0n the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an horizontal sectional view Similar to Fig. 3 ofl a modified construction; Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view similar to Fig.3,of a further modified form of the invention?f -V Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, similar to Fig. 3 of a still further modified form of the invention; and

' 111195- 7 and 3 'are enlarged horizontal sectional`v views of further'modiiied forms of the invention.

Referring to the drawings', the fastenerniay be of any approved .type of slider-operated coil fastener comprising QPPOSed stringers I and 2.

-each having secured to an edge thereof, one lcoil 3 or 4 of a pair ofjeoopersting cci-mating interlocking coilsadapted to be embraced by a slider i of usual construction for engaging and disengaging thecoils by movement of the slider longitudinally'therealong.

'Ihe Slider 5, of conventional form, comprises generally Vsimilar wings or plate portions 6, each provided with marginal side flanges l and connected near their upper edges by a neck or wedge v l which maintains them in xed spaced relation. and which cooperates with the marginal side flanges 'I to form a substantially Y-shaped channel or passage for progressively guiding the coils 3 and 4 into and out of interlocking relationfship. The inner marginal'edges 9 of the Side flanges are spaced apart suiliciently to slidably receive, without'wear, the Stringers I and 2.

. According to the invention, at least one form of the stringers is provided with means positioned between a marginal side flangeon the slider and an adjacent coil section, providing a substantially continuous guide for the slider to facilitate slidability ofthe slider alongv the Stringer as well as to prevent disengagement of the slider ,from a coil and a. Stringer, even though a spacing between certain convolutions of a coil be disposed in substantial valignment with the marginal side y flanges 1 of the slider during closing movement A of the slider.

In the form of invention mustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the Stringers i and 2 may be continuous lengths of suitable flexible material, for example a woven fabric strip. along the adjacent edges of which are lengths of coils adapted to be mated together into interlocking relationship. Preferably, these coils are formed from filaments of non-circular cross section and may be secured to the edges of the stringers by suitable loops I3. as for example by separate stitches embracing each convolution of the coil and connecting them to the edge of the stringer.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a plurality of slider guiding strips lI-.ll are provided for each stringer, and preferably these are positioned along opposite faces of the stringers adjacent the 'coll-attached edge to provide substantially continuous guides between the outer peripheral faces of the coils and the inwardly extending marginal flanges 'I of the slider. The guides are of such dimensions that the combined thickness of the stringers I or 2 and associated guides II or I2 will be substantially greater than the spacing between the marginal free edges 9 of the slider flanges 1 on opposite sides of the stringer.

The guides II and I2 of Figs. l and 2 may be of any suitable material, for example heavy cord or beads of flexible material, such as leather or woven, knitted, or braided fabric or the like and may be secured to the stringer by any suitable means such as stitching I3. These guides or beads may, if desired, also be secured to the coils 3 or 4 on the respectivestringers, as by stitching or loops I4 embracing each convolution. and thus secure the coils to the Stringer against twisting. This insures that the axis of the coil is parallel to and in the plane of the stringer tape and permits easier operation of the slider because the coils 3 and 4 are more readily moved into and out of co-mating interlocking relationship.

It is not absolutely necessary that the guides or beads II-I2 be secured on opposite sides of the stringer tapes as illustrated in Fig. 3. Optionally, guides or beads I Il-I 2 may be attached to only one side of the tapes as shown in Fig. 4,

providing the combined thickness of the beads- Ill-I2* and the Stringer tapes I* and 2Il will be substantially greater than the spacing betweenv the marginal free edges s lof the sliderflan'ges l on opposite sides of the Stringer tape. The coils 3 and 4 may be secured to their respective stringers I* and 2 and beads I I'l and I2* in the manner disclosed in Fig. 4, in which case there are two spaced loops Ill and I4* surrounding each convoluton ofthe coils for securing the coils parallel to and in the plane of the Stringer.

In a modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the interlocking fastener coils 3-4 may be formed of an organic plastic material such as solid polymers of styrene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene, chloride, methyl methacrylate etc. or resinous copolymers of such compounds with other unsaturated organic compounds. These may include any of the well known synthetic thermoplastic compounds possessing the properties of being drawable into a illament sumciently stiff and elastic to retain its shape after being formed but suniciently flexible so that it may be readily bent without breaking.

These organic thermoplastic coils may be attached to thestringers I and 2 in any suitable manner, as above described or by employing simliar organic thermoplasticguides or beads 2| or 22 on one or both sides of each stringer, These organic thermoplastic guides may be attached to the Stringer tapes inany suitable manner. for

. example as by stitching 23 as is illustrated with 4 respect to the guide strip 2| of Fig. 4. Alternatively. the plastic guide strips II-I! may be heated to cause the plastic metal to ilow through 4 the fabric stringer, and become fused together as is illustrated at 23* with respect to the guide 22 of Fig. 5.

- similarly the plastic guide strips zl-zz may be united or fused to the outer peripheral faces of the coil convolutions by heating so that the coils will be accurately attached to the stringer tape and maintained in a position parallel to and in the plane thereof. lAs will be apparent, the combined'thickness of the stringers I or 2 with the associated guide strip 2l or 22 will be substantially greater than the spacing between the opposed free edges 8 of the marginal side flanges 1 of the slider B. so as to prevent the slider from becoming disengaged from the coils.

As is illustrated in Fig. 6, the stringer tapes 3I-32 are preferably woven tapes employing a plurality of small warp threads 33 and one or two large diameter warp threads 34 of suitable diameter to form a slider-retaining head for the stringer. The weft threads 35 are woven around the warp threads 33-34 in such a manner as to form a T-shaped tape having large diameter guides at thehead of the T on opposite sides of the web and formed by the large diameter threads or cords 34. The coils 3 and 4 may be connected to the respective tapes 3I-32 by stitches or loops 36 from each large diameter thread 34 and embracing successive convolutions of the coils 3 and 4 at spaced circumferential points'to securely hold the coils against their respective tapes with the axis thereof in the plane of the web of the tapes.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there are illustrated further modied forms of the invention wherein woven Stringer tapes 4I-42 may be woven directly to the coils 3-4 either by a single loop 43 of the weft thread around the coll, as in Fig. 7 or by a plurality of loops 43-44 of the weft thread 4l around each coil. In such cases the guides may be in the form of beads 46 stitched preferably to both sides of the woven Stringer tapes 4I-42 by stitching 41.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a novel construction of coilattached Stringer tape provided with a continuous guide for a slider which will prevent the slider from becoming disengaged from the coil intermediate its ends. Furthermore, the provision of the beads on the tapes affords a guide for the slider facilitating easier sliding movement thereof and additionally provides a coilattaching edge of considerable width permitting a plurality of coil-attaching means for each convolution of the coil to hold the coil in proper position relative to the Stringer tape.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of construction as shown and described, as the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide fastener comprising a pair of Stringer tapes, a substantially continuous bead strip secured to one face of each tape adjacent one edge thereof, a fastener coil for each tape including spaced successive convolutions, and means connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one edge of said tape and said bead strip at a plurality of circumferentlally spaced points to attach the coilusecurely to said tape.

2. A slidefastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes, a substantially continuous bead strip se- Y coil securely to said tape.

cured to one face of each tape adjacent one edge thereof, a fastener coil for each tape including spaced successive convolutions, andgloop means connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one-edge of said tape and said bead strip at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach the coil securely to said tape.

3. A slide fastener comprising a pair of Stringer tapes, substantially continuous bead strips secured to opposite faces of each tape adjacent one edge thereof, a fastener coil for each tape in- 6 edge thereof, said bead strips comprising enlarged warp threads woven into said tape on said opposite faces at said edge, a fastener coil for each cluding spaced successive convolutions, and means f connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one edge of said tape and said bead strip at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach the coil securely to said tape.

4. A slide fastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes, substantially continuous bead strips secured to opposite faces of each tape adjacent one edge thereof,I a fastener coil for each tape including spaced successive convolutions, and 100D means connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one edge of said tape and said bead strip at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach the 5. A slide fastener comprising al pair of woven stringer tapes, a substantially continuous bead strip securedvto one face of each tape adjacent one edgethereof, said bead strip comprising an enlargedV warp thread woven int'o vsaid tape on said vface at said edge, a fastener coil for each tape including spaced successive convolutions, and loop means connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one edge of said tape and said bead strip at a plurality of ,circumferentially spaced points on each of said convo1utions Ato attach the coil securely toisaid tape.

6. A slide fastener comprising a vpair of stringer tapes, substantially continuous bead strips secured to opposite faces of each tape adjacent an tape including spaced successive convolutions, and loop means connecting each of said successive convolutions to said one edge of said tape and said bead strips at a plurality of 4circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach the coil securely to said tape.

7. A slide fastener comprising a pair of Stringer tapes, substantially continuous bead strips secured to opposite faces of each tape adjacent one edge thereof, and a fastener coil for each tape including spaced successive convolutions, each convolution being connected to said one edge of said tape and integrally joined to said bead strips at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach said coil to said tape. l

8. A slide fastener element comprising a Stringer tape, a substantially continuous bead strip secured to one face of said tape adjacent one edge thereof, a fastener coil including spaced successive convolutions, and means connecting each of said spaced successive convolutions to said one edge and said bead strip at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points on each of said convolutions to attach the coil securely to said tape.

JOHN H. KOHLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,973 Perlich Oct. l0, 1903 1,776,847 Blair Sept. 30, 1930 2,061,680 Sipe Nov. 24, 1936 2,089,922 Grant Aug. l0, 1937 2,171,335 Gross Aug. 29, 1939 2,264,325

Morin Dec. 2, 1941 

